Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to media after the summit between the U.S. and North Korea in Singapore, at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, on June 12, 2018. (Reuters/Issei Kato)MOREHIDE

World Leaders React to Trump–Kim Summit

Notes of praise and support poured in from world leaders after the successful meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12.

Representatives of the European Union, Japan, China, and Russia were among those commending the historic summit—the first between the leaders of the United States and North Korea—where the communist dictatorship reaffirmed a commitment to give up nuclear weapons.

“The ultimate goal, shared by the entire international community and as expressed by the United Nations Security Council, remains the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” the European Union stated in a press release.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised the summit “as a step in a comprehensive resolution” and promised more cooperation with Washington, Beijing, Seoul, Moscow, and others to resolve the lineup of issues North Korea will face if it is sincere about wanting to rejoin the international community. Abe specifically mentioned the Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea.

“I highly praise and appreciate President Trump for mentioning the issue of abduction to Kim, which is an important issue for Japan,” Abe told reporters.

He said Japan will negotiate for the release of the abductees directly with North Korea.

He also called for the return of the six-party talks (held by North and South Korea, the United States, Japan, China, and Russia), according to Russian press agency TASS.

China lauded the summit, too. “New history has been made, and China welcomes and supports it,” said Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry. “This is also a goal that contains China’s expectations and efforts.”

He expressed hope for the promised denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula and called for other nations to engage in the effort.

“We wish all related countries join the efforts, and China will play its own constructive role,” he said.

Trump had a 40-minute private talk with Kim (with translators present), followed by an expanded bilateral talk and working lunch.

“It’s going great. We had a really fantastic meeting,” Trump said after the lunch. “A lot of progress. Really, very positive, I think better than anybody could have expected.”

The two then signed a joint statement reaffirming North Korea’s commitment to giving up nuclear weapons. Trump agreed to provide “security guarantees” to North Korea, and both countries agreed to renew relations and meet again.

During a press conference after the summit, Trump expressed confidence that Kim will follow through on his commitments and that the denuclearization process would be completed as physically and mechanically fast as possible.

Sanctions will remain in place for now, but Trump said the “war games” military exercises that the United States holds with South Korea will be canceled.

He said he is certain Kim is sincere in his desire to go nuclear-free and to usher in peace and prosperity for North Koreans.

Trump said next week he will get together with national security adviser John Bolton and his team to go over details of the next steps.

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